Baseball Handicapping Articles

Expert MLB Betting Advice: Weekly Baseball Bullpen Report
by Victor Ryan - 6/17/2016

A lights-out performance by the Miami Marlins bullpen the past week has helped put them into contention for a National League wild-card berth, while the former AL West-leading Mariners has sprung a leak in the bullpen and now find themselves 6.5 games behind the Rangers in the division race. Here is this week's Doc's Sports bullpen report.

MLB Handicapping: Toronto Blue Jays on the Betting Upswing
by Trevor Whenham - 6/17/2016

After a very impressive season last year - their first division win in a generation and a solid showing in the playoffs - the expectations were again high for the Toronto Blue Jays heading into this season. Early on, though, it seemed like they were doomed. The performance on the field was lousy, the chemistry seemed broken, and nothing was going right.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Friday, June 17, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 6/16/2016

Need a shortstop for the rest of the season? Former All-Star Jose Reyes is on the market. To no surprise, the Colorado Rockies designated Reyes for assignment on Wednesday. With how well rookie shortstop Trevor Story was playing and the fact that Reyes recently finished serving his 51-game suspension for violating MLB's domestic violence policy, there was no way the Rockies were going to put Reyes on the big-league roster.

MLB Betting Trends: Hot and Cold Baseball Wagers
by Victor Ryan - 6/16/2016

The profits continued to pour in last week for supporters of the Texas Rangers, who have been by far the best bet in baseball this season at +23.0 units. The Rangers (41-25) went 5-2 last week with, incredibly, all five wins coming as an underdog. This made them easily the most profitable bet in baseball during the past week.

Free MLB Picks for Best Props Odds: Thursday June 16, 2016
by Chris Vasile - 6/16/2016

Have you ever watched a game where the team you are betting on comes out completely flat and looks disinterested only for them to flip the switch and perform when the game is already out of reach? Yup, that's exactly what the Yankees did on Tuesday against the Rockies.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Thursday, June 16, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 6/15/2016

There's a player out there who could potentially be a difference-maker for a contender, and it won't cost said contender prospects in trade or a draft pick. Just a lot of money. That guy is Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel. I don't really understand the rules on signing international guys, but MLB said this week that for whatever reason Gurriel was a true free agent. Now, you never know what you will get with Cuban hitters -- it could be Jose Abreu (stud) or Rusney Castillo (bust) or somewhere in between.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Wednesday, June 15, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 6/14/2016

I'm backing off my prediction that the Texas Rangers will repeat as AL West champions for now, at least until we find out when Yu Darvish will be back -- assuming he is. Just three starts into his return from Tommy John surgery, he has been placed back on the disabled list with discomfort in his neck and pitching shoulder. Needless to say, that sounds ominous, but an MRI on Monday has revealed nothing major.

Free MLB Picks for Best Props Odds: Tuesday June 14, 2016
by Chris Vasile - 6/14/2016

When I wrote my last MLB piece on Thursday, I spoke about how much the ebbs and flows of MLB baseball can affect any handicapper and get them off their game. Luckily for me, I was only affected by it for one night as I returned on Thursday of last week to give you two solid winners that were never in question. The goal now is to continue the upward trend.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Tuesday, June 14, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 6/13/2016

Friday's game was almost an utter disaster for the Pittsburgh Pirates as both ace Gerrit Cole and starting catcher Francisco Cervelli left the game with injuries. First the good news: Cole is likely to miss at least his next start and might have to go on the 15-day DL, but an MRI revealed no structural damage. Cole left with tightness in his right triceps. The team wasn't as fortunate on Cervelli as he suffered a broken bone in his left hand and likely misses six weeks.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Saturday, June 11, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 6/10/2016

If the Miami Marlins are even thinking about trading ace Jose Fernandez because they know he's leaving as a free agent after the 2018 season and they can't re-sign him (they won't be able to), his value will never be higher than after this year if Fernandez keeps going at his current pace -- plus the team acquiring him would get two full seasons.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Friday, June 10, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 6/9/2016

Two aces left their games early on Wednesday with issues in their pitching arms, and both teams will be on pins and needles Thursday awaiting test results on said arms. The Rangers should win the AL West with a healthy Yu Darvish, but in just his third start back from Tommy John surgery he had to leave Wednesday's game with tightness in his pitching shoulder. Darvish thinks it's nothing and that he will make his next start, but he's obviously not a doctor. Potentially more worrisome was Phillies young right-hander Vince Velasquez leaving after just two pitches Wednesday -- fastballs that didn't top 87 mph when he averages 94 -- against the Cubs with right biceps soreness.

Free MLB Picks for Best Props Odds: Thursday June 9, 2016
by Chris Vasile - 6/9/2016

The MLB season is a long grind, and betting it on a daily basis can fluster even the veteran handicappers out there. The ebbs and flows hit you like a sack of potatoes, and you can only do your best to withstand the blow, dust yourself off and carry on with the cause. I took one of those hits on Tuesday and its time to get over it and move forward.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Thursday, June 9, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 6/8/2016

Will 2016 be the Year of the Brawl? The Rangers and Blue Jays, centered around Rougned Odor and Jose Bautista, had a big one about three weeks ago. And on Tuesday night, there was another pretty intense one between the Orioles and Royals, centered on Kansas City pitcher Yordano Ventura and Baltimore superstar and MVP candidate Manny Machado. Both are going to get suspended, but Ventura deserves a long one.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Wednesday, June 8, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 6/7/2016

The first big trade of the 2016 season was finalized over the weekend when the Chicago White Sox got some stability for their rotation in landing right-hander James Shields from the San Diego Padres for minor-league pitcher Erik Johnson and shortstop prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. Shields is still owed about $58 million over the rest of his contract, but he can opt out after this season.

MLB Betting Trends: Hot and Cold Baseball Wagers
by Victor Ryan - 6/7/2016

The Texas Rangers, who have been the best bet in baseball this season, had yet another sizzling week to continue boosting profits. Meanwhile, the playoff-contending Pirates have been a money-pit of late for bettors. Here is this week's look at the hottest and coldest bets in baseball.

Free MLB Picks for Best Props Odds: Tuesday June 7, 2016
by Chris Vasile - 6/7/2016

I must admit, baseball is the last thing on my mind at the moment. I am in full-blown soccer mode with Copa America and the Euro Cup taking up a majority of my time. I have analyzed the entire Euro field up, down and back again and am more than eager for it to begin! However, despite my mind drifting away from baseball, I have still put in hours of research to get you two more winners that will build your bankroll just in time for the weekend.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Tuesday, June 7, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 6/6/2016

Could this year be 1912 all over again? That season, the Red Sox beat the (New York) Giants in the World Series. It was the only best-of-seven World Series to ever go eight games. How'd that happen? Game 2 at Fenway Park was declared a 6-6 tie, called after 11 innings due to darkness. Not sure why they couldn't pick it up the next day.

Expert MLB Betting Advice: Weekly Baseball Bullpen Report
by Victor Ryan - 6/6/2016

MLB bullpens have seen increased workloads with the season now in its third month and the dog days of summer approaching. Therefore it's probably no coincidence that two of the hottest teams in the bigs--the Blue Jays and Rangers--also produced the best relief pitching during the past seven days. At the other end of the spectrum, there are the lowly Padres. San Diego had one of the most epic bullpen meltdowns of all time last week. They are joined by the Angels and Phillies with faltering bullpens.

MLB Betting Advice: Best and Worst Teams to Wager on Thus Far
by Victor Ryan - 6/3/2016

The first two months of the MLB season has played largely to form. Clubs like the Twins, Braves and Reds have been absolute money pits, as was expected, while the Cubs Giants and Orioles have been among the most profitable wagers in baseball.

MLB Betting Trends: Hot and Cold Over and Under Teams for Baseball Wagering
by Aaron Smith - 6/3/2016

The San Francisco Giants have been on fire of late. The Giants started the season slowly, but their pitching staff has been dominant in recent weeks and they sit atop the National League West with a 34-22 record. We've seen some amazing pitching performances from guys like Kershaw and Syndergaard, but overall it has been the offense that has ruled in recent weeks in Major League Baseball.